Tag: creators

Tune In, Tune Up: Five Creators Share Tips To Guide Your 2025 Wellness Goals

January 10, 2025

The new year is a time for fresh starts and a renewed focus on our well-being, and there is a wealth of podcasts you can stream on Spotify to find inspiration and motivation. To help you kick off 2025 feeling your best, we’ve consulted five luminaries in the wellness space to share their insights.

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck Podcast

Building on Mark Manson’s bestselling self-help book of the same name, The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck Podcast tackles relationships, careers, health, wealth, and happiness with refreshing honesty. Featuring a mix of guest appearances, burning reader questions, and solo shows with Mark, the show explores all the uncomfortable questions that might just change your life.

Mark Manson

How it started: “It happened by accident. I started blogging my own personal growth journey, had a distinct style and some unique takes, and developed an audience relatively early on. They started asking me for advice, so I went and researched the answers. From there, it just kind of snowballed.”

How it’s going: “Spotify has been the primary home for my podcast audience almost since we launched. It seems like we grow the most organically there, and our listeners are more engaged.”

Mark’s wellness tip: “I know big, ambitious goals are sexy, but you’re far more likely to succeed if you break them down into a series of small, relatively attainable goals and take them down one after the other. It’s not as sexy or exciting but it’s what actually works. If you’re relying on willpower, you’re doing it wrong.”

Stream the latest episode of The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck Podcast on Spotify.

The Liz Moody Podcast

Hosted by bestselling author and longtime journalist Liz Moody, The Liz Moody Podcast offers research-backed wellness advice. Liz sits down with some of the world’s leading experts to answer some of the biggest health and wellness questions, from what to eat to fight disease to how to take control of your finances.

Liz Moody

How it started: “After experiencing a mental health crisis, I turned to the skill set I’d honed over the years: researching and asking questions. I reached out to people I had absolutely no business talking to (neuroscientists at Stanford, nutrition researchers at Harvard) to try to uncover what was happening in my brain, and how I could potentially feel better. Many of them didn’t write back, but a few did, and with that information I began to cobble together a plan for myself. Slowly—very slowly!—I started to feel better, and I became passionate about helping others feel better, too.”

How it’s going: “People are already listening to their favorite music on Spotify, so it’s easy for them to integrate podcasts—I love making any wellness habits as simple as possible, so meeting people where they already are is huge for that. It’s also so fun to have comments on episodes, and be able to continue the discussions raised and get feedback on what people are loving.”

Liz’s wellness tip: “The world’s largest study on gut health found that the single most important thing to feed our microbes was how much diversity was in our diet. Specifically, the study found that 30 plants per week was the ideal number for optimal microbiome benefits. So start counting your plants—and anything that grows in the ground counts as a plant—and try to add more plants to every meal. Can you hit that 30 a week number? It becomes a fun game, but it also has huge health benefits.”

Stream the latest episode of The Liz Moody Podcast on Spotify.

GrownKid

Following the success of Teenager Therapy, Gael Aitor and Kayla Suarez returned last summer with a brand-new podcast, GrownKid, focused on young adulthood. Bringing diverse perspectives from experts and leading voices across generations, GrownKid offers meaningful conversations around critical topics for Gen Z, like building a career without a college degree or overcoming rejection.

Kayla Suarez and Gael Aitor

How it started: “We started a podcast documenting our coming-of-age when we were 15 years old, and so began our journey into advocating for the importance of vulnerability, mental health, and wellness.”

How it’s going: “Not only has Spotify given us the ability to talk with our audience directly, but it’s also allowed us to get a sense of what’s important to our listeners by helping us track the better-performing episodes and topics we do.”

Gael’s wellness tip: “When you feel yourself getting brain fog, go outside and walk in nature. If that’s not possible, walk inside your house!”

Kayla’s wellness tip: “Dance, dance, dance! I feel like dancing as an act of wellness is underrated. Even just setting aside 10 minutes to play your favorite songs and dance has made such a difference for me.”

Stream the latest episode of GrownKid on Spotify.

Self Obsessed

A renowned self-love and development expert, Tam Kaur is dedicated to helping women become the best versions of themselves. On Self Obsessed, she provides advice on topics like building confidence, embracing authenticity, setting boundaries, cultivating healthy relationships, and pursuing your passions.

How it started: “I’ve always been obsessed with self-development. Along the way, I definitely made mistakes, but the lessons I learned inspired me to share them so that other women could progress on their journeys faster.”

Tam Kaur

How it’s going: “Spotify has allowed me another avenue to provide value to my audience, from my curated wellness playlists filled with uplifting songs to my audiobook, Buy Yourself the Damn Flowers. With my podcast, it’s allowed me to share my story more in depth, connect with my listeners, and create even more content for my audience members who are always on the go!”

Tam’s wellness tip: “Meditate. It’s something I value more strongly now than ever. It’s easy to do and doesn’t have to take more than two minutes, and yet the benefits are endless. You gain peace, clarity, and presence. Not to mention it’s a powerful manifestation tool when you visualize your dream reality at the same time. It has the power to rewire your subconscious so that you can develop a more positive self-concept.”

Stream the latest episode of Self Obsessed on Spotify.

Let’s Talk About Mental Health with Jeremy Godwin

On Let’s Talk About Mental Health, writer, counselor, and mental health advocate Jeremy Godwin breaks down complex mental health topics into simple, actionable steps. With practical, research-backed advice and insights from his expertise and personal experience, he seeks to help you build healthier habits, foster resilience, and create lasting positive change.

Jeremy Godwin

How it started: “After going through a breakdown in late 2011, followed by several years of severe depression and anxiety, I wanted to find a way to help others who were dealing with what I went through. Over a decade later, I’ve found a space to help people that also makes me feel incredibly fulfilled!”

How it’s going: “Being able to engage directly with my listeners through comments and polls on Spotify helps me understand what resonates with them, and have real conversations (instead of just talking at them each week in my show!).”

Jeremy’s wellness tip: “Focus on what you can directly control. It’s so easy to become overwhelmed by the weight of the world and all the stuff we need to deal with in our lives…but when you remember that you can only ever control your own words and actions, it frees you from a lot of stress.”

Stream the latest episode of Let’s Talk About Mental Health with Jeremy Godwin on Spotify.

The Spotify Partner Program Is Here, Offering New Ways for Creators to Monetize in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia

January 2, 2025

With more than 640 million users and more than 250 million subscribers, Spotify is one of the largest platforms in the world for creators. We’re also continuously building new offerings to help creators grow their audiences and better monetize their content on Spotify. Today, we officially launched the Spotify Partner Program, a powerful new monetization system for creators in the U.S., the U.K., Canada, and Australia.

First announced at our Now Playing event, this program gives eligible creators who host with us access to multiple revenue streams to help them transform their shows into sustainable businesses: audience-driven payouts from Spotify Premium video engagement, and the ability to monetize via ads in Spotify Free and on all other podcast listening platforms.

This dual approach gives creators greater flexibility and control, helping them navigate industry shifts and maintain consistent revenue streams. Users, meanwhile, benefit from enhancements to the viewing experience and a bigger and better catalog of video podcasts, and Premium users are able to watch without interruptions from third-party ads. While a creator’s baked-in sponsorships will remain in episodes, traditional dynamic ads will not interrupt the video for Premium users, creating a seamless viewing experience on any device.

Early success and creator optimism

Creators are embracing the opportunity for greater control over their businesses and the ability to deliver the best possible content to their fans, fostering loyalty and audience retention. Since we announced the Spotify Partner Program on November 13, more than 65% of eligible shows and networks have already enrolled. Here’s what we’re hearing:

    • Smart Money Happy Hour creators: “We’re thrilled to partner with Spotify as they build a phenomenal podcast experience for their users. Smart Money Happy Hour exists to make the lives of our fans better, and adding video on Spotify does just that. We love all of the product enhancements that are happening on Spotify, and we plan to use all of them to engage with our audience even more in 2025!”
    • The Paranormal Podcast host Jim Harold: “I’m thrilled to be one of the early participants in the Spotify Partner Program. The power of longform video on Spotify gives us access to new viewers while super-serving our loyal audio audience with an added dimension. It makes 2025 an exciting new year for The Paranormal Podcast. As usual, Spotify is at the forefront of innovation for both creators and their audiences.”
    • The Makeshift Podcast co-host Zach Misischia: “The new Spotify Partner Program has given us a way to monetize our podcast without interrupting the listener’s experience, which is extremely important to us since it can often deter listeners from continuing an episode.”

Because video is naturally growing in popularity across Spotify, we’re continuing to invest in ways to make the viewing experience more seamless and delightful for our users, and to allow creators to leverage the format for discovery and growth. Podcast clips, also unveiled at Now Playing, are short-form videos uploaded by creators that are recommended across Spotify surfaces, making it easier for users to discover new shows. Since launching the feature in select markets in November, we’ve seen that clips are 33% more effective than previews at converting browsers into potential listeners.

Ready to unlock the full potential of your content? Get started now with the Spotify Partner Program.

Audiobook Authors and Publishers Get a New Suite of Tools With the Launch of Spotify for Authors

November 26, 2024

Spotify’s audiobook catalog brings more than 300,000 titles—and counting—to the ears of listeners around the world. Now we’re launching a new platform to offer more for the authors and publishers behind the audiobook content we all love. Introducing Spotify for Authors.

Much like Spotify for Artists and Spotify for Creators, the new Spotify for Authors platform empowers authors and publishers with better tools and data to maximize their success on Spotify.

For publishers

We have worked alongside publishers to develop impactful tools that deliver better insights and growth for publishers and authors alike. For publishers, Spotify for Authors expands on the catalog management and royalty reporting currently offered in Passport, with insights and analytics to help them better understand their audiences and catalog consumption on Spotify. The platform also provides promotional tools to help publishers enhance their presence on Spotify and expand their listener bases.

For authors

For authors invited by publishers, Spotify for Authors offers direct access to industry-leading insights, as well as growth and promotional tools to help them grow their listeners and catalogs, including:

  • Aggregated age and gender demographics that provide more insight than ever before, to let them know who is listening to their content on Spotify. 
  • Redemption codes to share royalty-free copies of titles with reviewers, superfans, and collaborators (if enabled by their publishers).
  • Promo cards to generate professional and shareable social assets for their titles in just one click.
  • Early access to author profiles, a new feature rolling out to Spotify so fans can easily discover more about the authors behind their favorite books.

For the Record caught up with Owen Smith, VP of Audiobooks Product and Technology at Spotify, to learn more about Spotify for Authors and what this new platform means for the people and teams behind the audiobooks listeners love.

What makes Spotify for Authors unique in the publishing industry?

We believe that one of the best ways to support authors and publishers is by giving them access to the right tools and data. With Spotify for Authors, we’re giving our partners across the audiobooks industry more comprehensive insights and marketing features to make the most of their presence on Spotify. 

This platform is unique for the industry because it is built to support any author or publisher — we’re not gating any features or limiting them based on exclusivity. Our aim is to push the entire industry forward for the benefit of all authors and publishers, and we believe they need the right tools and technology to reach their maximum potential. We’re just beginning to roll out access to Spotify for Authors but are eager to see the impact a platform like this can have for publishers and authors of any size.  

How will Spotify for Authors help publishers and authors reach new audiences?

The more we give rich and granular insights to publishers and authors, the more they can understand their audience and make strategic decisions about how to market their audiobook. For example, they can now see the age and demographic info of who is listening to their titles on Spotify, and also what genres of podcasts they’re listening to. This is important because podcasts are a big part of any book’s release campaign and ongoing success—so now they will have a better sense of what kinds of shows to target. I’m also excited to see authors leverage redemption codes to promote their titles and draw in new and existing fans. 

How will Spotify continue to innovate and update its audiobook offerings?

With audiobooks, we know Spotify can uniquely reimagine the format, and Spotify for Authors is the foundation on which we’ll expand the much-requested creative options for authors and publishers. We have a lot in store for audiobooks on Spotify in 2025: bringing our partners better tools and more insights through Spotify for Authors so they can connect more authentically with their readers and fans, building richer and more dynamic experiences for listeners (like our follow-along experience we’re currently testing), and enhancing our discovery and cross-promotion efforts across content verticals to introduce new audiences to the format. 

Lastly, I’ll say: We’ve worked closely with authors and publishers to develop Spotify for Authors, prioritizing what to build based on their feedback and needs, and will continue to iterate and partner with them along the way. So, if you’re an author or publisher using our tools, please send us your notes! 

Today’s launch is just the first step as we help authors and publishers reach new audiences, connect more deeply with their fans, and drive listening. 

Spotify for Authors is available in all Spotify markets, enabling authors and publishers to utilize Spotify’s tools regardless of where they publish from. Publishers can access Spotify for Authors with their Spotify logins and can invite authors to join at authors.spotify.com. We will be expanding access to authors using Findaway Voices early next year. 

If you’re an author or publisher, visit this link to learn more.

Big ‘Higher Learning’ Fan? We Are Too. Rachel Lindsay Shares Why Video Is Such an Important Part of the Podcast

November 14, 2024

This week, talented creators traveled to Los Angeles to join Spotify for Now Playing, where we unveiled a series of new offerings aimed at helping them better monetize their video podcasts on Spotify and grow their audiences. It was an exciting event that spotlighted our biggest update to podcasts on Spotify—including an exciting evolution of the name and brand of our accompanying platform to Spotify for Creators—all to better serve the multiformat needs of our community.

One creator in attendance was Rachel Lindsay. The attorney, internet personality, author, and Bachelorette star is also the cohost of the Ringer podcast Higher Learning. On the show, Rachel and her cohost Van Lathan dissect the biggest topics in Black culture, politics, and sports. At Now Playing, Rachel shared her experience and expertise in a panel titled “Fandoms Are Culture: How Creators & Content Grow on Spotify.”

For the Record caught up with Rachel to learn more about how her show comes together, as well as the creators and artists she’s currently listening to on Spotify.

What inspired you to start your show?

Sometimes other people recognize what is right for you before you can see it for yourself. I always wanted to be in the media but thought that only could be with television. I met Bill Simmons because I was doing some interviews with Juliet Litman on Bachelor Party. I ended up doing some other work with The Ringer, and eventually Bill asked me if I wanted to create a project that was purposeful and I could be proud of. He had an idea and introduced me to my cohost, Van Lathan. We immediately connected and had a brother-sister relationship. Originally we were supposed to start our podcast in March 2020, but COVID hit and changed everything regarding the production and launch of our podcast. We eventually launched in May 2020, which was a very pivotal and dark time for Black people in this country. We decided to change the direction of our podcast to be the pulse of the culture…the rest is Higher Learning history.

How do you select the topics you cover?

We have a topical show that is a reflection of what is happening in the culture. If something is happening in the world, we want people to know that you can find us covering it that week. We select topics by following the news, social media, reading articles, podcasts, and talking with friends. We don’t want to miss breaking news or viral moments. We share stories, ideas, and topics in a group chat and narrow down what is the most effective rundown for our show.

How has working with Spotify helped strengthen your connection with your fans?

Higher Learning was one of the first podcasts to have the video element. This allowed our viewers to feel as if they were sitting at the podcast table with us in an intimate way. Video brings the podcast to life in a different way. My favorite thing is to spot one of our listeners (aka Thought Warriors) in the wild. They will often tell me how they feel like they know us and relate to us, and it is because they can watch us on Spotify with video.

What advice do you have for emerging creators?

There is so much content available out there that covers every genre, topic, etc. What makes the content different is the creator. I would encourage you to find something that you are passionate about and then apply your unique voice and perspective to it because that is what will differentiate you. Do not try to emulate your favorite creator. Learn from them and use them as a guide to build something special.

Are there any Spotify features or tools that are especially helpful for you?

I cannot talk enough about Spotify video!

Who are some of your favorite creators to follow?

Everyone on The Ringer and Ringer Reality TV, Danny Pellegrino, Kid Fury and Crissle, and Natasha Parker.

What are you currently listening to?

Akeem Ali, Tyler, The Creator, Willie Jones, GloRilla, BigXthaPlug, Doechii, and Muni Long.

Rachel Lindsay, Van Lathan, and Mallory Rubin speak onstage during the “Now Playing” Event

Check out more coverage from Spotify’s Now Playing event.

Introducing Casa Spotify Buenos Aires, a New Cultural Center for Argentine Creators

August 15, 2024

Recent years have seen the emergence of groundbreaking talent from cultural hot spots across Latin America. Propelled by the power of streaming, Latin beats are reshaping the rhythm of global music. Argentina is home to a number of these artists, with hitmakers like Maria Becerra and Bizarrap breaking down barriers and bringing their music to fans around the world.

At Spotify, we’re committed to elevating Argentine artists to the global stage. And now, we’re proud to present Casa Spotify Buenos Aires, a new space for Argentine creators located in the heart of the city’s art scene.

A place for creators to hone their craft

This vibrant space will bring artists, producers, podcasters, and fans together year-round, offering a unique environment for inspiration, growth, and collaboration. With a podcast studio, listening rooms, an acoustic performance space, and more, Casa Spotify Buenos Aires is where every visitor can find their voice.

“At Spotify, we firmly believe in the power of music to connect people and strengthen communities, and Casa Spotify is the perfect space for that,” said Belen Dantas, Marketing Manager for Spotify’s Southern Cone region. “This venue not only provides artists and creators with a platform to share their creativity but also allows listeners to discover and enjoy a variety of meaningful experiences and connections, fostering a sense of belonging within our global community.”

Comments on Podcasts Gives Creators and Listeners More Ways To Engage

July 9, 2024

*Update as of April 23, 2025: We are expanding our auto-publishing capabilities to more languages, including comments made in Spanish, German, and Portuguese, in addition to English.

*Update as of October 23, 2024: We’ve been investing in new settings and features to improve the comments experience on Spotify, and give creators even more flexibility and control over their show. We will now automatically publish all new comments made in English, as long as they meet our platform rules. Get the latest at Spotify for Podcasters.

For podcast creators who want to grow their audiences, building a stronger relationship with their listeners and fans goes a long way. And in order to amplify their presence, creators need tools that give them the functionality, insights, and flexibility to manage their shows and engage fans anytime, anywhere. 

That’s why, starting today, we’re beginning to roll out a brand-new way for podcast creators to interact with their fans—with Comments—and introducing an easier way for all podcasters to manage their shows: with the all-new Spotify for Podcasters mobile app.

Our new Comments feature expands on the Q&A and polls functionality we introduced in 2021 as a way to bring interactivity into the podcasting industry for the first time. And interactivity is a feature that already has listeners and creators buzzing: More than 9 million unique Spotify listeners have interacted with a Q&A or poll just this year, and there’s been 80% year-over-year growth in the number of total Q&A responses and votes from listeners.

“As a podcast focused on the lessons we can learn from history’s greatest leaders, I’m always curious about which takeaways resonate most with my audience,” said Ben Wilson, creator of How to Take Over the World. “Comments on Spotify provide me that invaluable feedback, which makes creating my podcast that much more rewarding and allows me to build a stronger connection with my listeners.”

With the introduction of Comments, we’re also excited to give all creators—regardless of where their episodes are hosted—better ways to manage their entire show, including listener feedback. Podcast creators can now use Spotify for Podcasters on desktop or with our all-new mobile app to interact with listeners, manage their presence on Spotify, check their latest stats, and track growth in real time. And fans can directly comment on the podcast episodes they’re already listening to on Spotify. 

Siete podcasters colombianos que la van a romper en 2024

February 7, 2024

Spotify es el hogar de más de 5 millones de pódcast. Desde historias de vida impactantes hasta consejos para conquistar el mundo, el medio ofrece a los fans incontables horas de contenido en un formato que se adapta a cualquier momento de tu vida.

En Colombia, los oyentes se vuelcan en masa a los pódcast. La generación Z tiene una afinidad especial con ellos, de hecho, en Spotify, representan el 41% de los consumidores de videopodcasts en el país. Estos oyentes prefieren empezar el día con podcasts —la hora de mayor audiencia es de 6 a 8 de la mañana— que tratan sobre música, salud y bienestar, cultura y sociedad, y mucho más.

Para los oyentes de habla hispana en busca de nuevos programas, hemos reunido algunas de nuestras principales recomendaciones de pódcast para 2024. Estos creadores colombianos cubren una amplia gama de temas, desde chismes hasta historias inspiradoras, así que hay algo para todos:

Gordas De Envidia de Camilo Pulgarín

En Gordas De Envidia de Camilo Pulgarín, su alter ego, María José, entretiene a sus seguidores con chismes, preguntas picantes y anécdotas divertidas de sus invitados, que incluyen personalidades de redes sociales y artistas de Medellín. El show ha duplicado su número de oyentes desde sus primeros 30 días en la plataforma y es uno de los podcasts favoritos de los usuarios entre 18 y 24 años. 

Episodio más escuchado:

No Me Rindo By Silvy Araujo

Silvy Araujo es uno de los nombres más conocidos del mundo fitness en Colombia. Esta entrenadora certificada y empresaria nacida en Cartagena ha creado una comunidad con el lema “No me rindo”, y su frase insignia es también el título de su pódcast. En su programa, Silvy comparte historias que van más allá de la vida sana. Su audiencia en Spotify está formada principalmente por usuarios entre 18 y 29 años de países como Colombia, Estados Unidos y España. El pódcast de Silvy ha escalado posiciones, con 13 episodios que han hecho parte  del top 100 diario de Spotify en Colombia.

Episodio más escuchado:

Táchalo – El Podcast De Sajú

Las mentes detrás de Sajú, uno de los emprendimientos con compromiso ambiental más reconocidos del país, crearon su pódcast para compartir la filosofía “Táchalo”, que, según su descripción, “busca arriesgarse a lo diferente, incómodo o difícil para hacer todas esas cosas que tenemos escritas en las notas de nuestros celulares”.

Su pódcast comparte historias de personas que se han atrevido a llevar estas notas a la realidad y tachar cosas increíbles. El programa es popular entre oyentes de 18 a 24 años, y el pódcast ha crecido un 265% desde su primer mes en la plataforma en comparación con los últimos 30 días.

Episodio más escuchado:

Los Platos Sucios De La Rubia Inmoral

Ana María Cardona, conocida en las redes sociales como La Rubia Inmoral, utiliza su pódcast para examinar la vida, especialmente desde la perspectiva de una mujer. 

En Spotify, la audiencia de su programa está formada principalmente por usuarios de 18 a 29 años de Colombia, Estados Unidos y España. Desde su debut en 2021, Los Platos Sucios De La Rubia Inmoral  ha visto aumentar su audiencia en un 85% desde el primer mes en la plataforma, en comparación con el último. El programa también ha visto 41 de sus episodios entrar en la lista de los 100 más escuchados en Colombia en Spotify.

Episodio más escuchado: 

VOS PODÉS de Tatiana Franko

Tatiana Franko, periodista que ha trabajado en televisión durante más de 10 años, traslada sus habilidades como entrevistadora al formato pódcast con su programa VOS PODÉS de Tatiana Franko. “VOS PODÉS” se ha convertido en su frase característica y es el mensaje que quiere transmitir a los oyentes. 

En su videopodcast comparte las historias de personas que han pasado por situaciones muy difíciles. Desde su primer mes, el pódcast ha multiplicado por 50 el número de oyentes. También ha conseguido que 64 episodios lleguen a la lista de los 100 más escuchados en Colombia en Spotify.

Episodio más escuchado: 

Vivir Sin Permiso Con Abi

En este pódcast, Daniela Abisambra deconstruye lo que significa vivir la vida según tus propios criterios. Sus episodios incluyen charlas con invitados de la industria del entretenimiento y las redes sociales. Vivir Sin Permiso Con Abi ha posicionado cuatro episodios en la lista de los 100 más escuchados en Colombia en Spotify. La audiencia del show incluye principalmente jóvenes de 18 a 24 años en Colombia, México y Estados Unidos.

Episodio más escuchado:

Aleja y La Grúa Podcast

En su videopodcast Aleja y La Grúa comentan con los oyentes historias que les resultan familiares. Sus divertidos comentarios son un éxito entre los seguidores, y han contribuido a que 60 de sus episodios entren en la lista de los 100 más escuchados en Colombia en Spotify. 

El éxito del programa ha trascendido países y también es popular en Estados Unidos, España, Costa Rica, Australia y México. 

Episodio más escuchado:

 

Echa un vistazo a esta lista de reproducción de pódcast para ver un resumen de los programas que hemos destacado más arriba. Desde historias reveladoras hasta lágrimas de risa, la lista de reproducción incluye algo para todos los gustos. 

7 Colombian Podcasters Breaking Through in 2024

February 7, 2024

Spotify is home to more than 5 million podcasts. From impactful life stories to tips for conquering the world, the medium gives fans countless hours of content in a format that fits into any moment of their lives.

In Colombia, listeners are flocking to podcasts. In fact, Gen Z has a special affinity for them on Spotify, and the group makes up 41% of video-podcast consumers in the country. These listeners prefer to start their days with podcasts—a prime listening time is 6 to 8 a.m.—that cover music, health and wellness, culture and society, and much more.

For Spanish-language listeners on the hunt for new shows, we’ve rounded up some of our top podcast recommendations for 2024. These Colombian creators cover a wide range of topics—from humorous gossip to inspiring stories—so there’s something for everyone.

Gordas De Envidia de Camilo Pulgarín

On Gordas De Envidia de Camilo Pulgarín, Camilo Pulgarín‘s alter ego, María José, entertains fans with gossip, spicy questions, and funny anecdotes from his guests, which include social media personalities and artists from Medellín. The show more than doubled its listener count in its first 30 days on the platform, and is a podcast favorite for users between the ages of 18 and 24. 

Most-listened-to episode:

No Me Rindo By Silvy Araujo

Silvy Araujo is one of the best-known names in fitness in Colombia. The Cartagena-born certified trainer and entrepreneur has created a community with the slogan “No Me Rindo” (I don’t give up), and her signature phrase is also the title of her podcast. On her show, Silvy shares stories that go beyond healthy living. Her Spotify audience is predominantly aged 18 to 29 and based in Colombia, the United States, and Spain. Silvy’s show has climbed the charts, with 13 episodes entering the daily top 100 in Colombia on Spotify. 

Most-listened-to episode:

Táchalo – El Podcast De Sajú

The minds behind Sajú, one of Colombia’s most recognized environmentally focused ventures, created their podcast to share the philosophy of “Táchalo,” which is to “risk what is different, uncomfortable, or difficult to do.” Their podcast shares stories of people who tackle their dreams. The show is popular among listeners aged 18 to 24, and the podcast has grown 265% since its first month on the platform.

Most-listened-to episode:

Los Platos Sucios De La Rubia Inmoral

Ana María Cardona, known on social media as La Rubia Inmoral, uses her podcast to examine life, especially from a woman’s perspective. On Spotify, her show’s audience largely consists of users aged 18 to 29 in Colombia, the United States, and Spain. Since its 2021 debut, Los Platos Sucios De La Rubia Inmoral has seen its listenership increase 85% in its first 30 days on the platform, compared to the last month. The show has also seen 41 of its episodes enter Spotify’s daily top 100 chart in Colombia.

Most-listened-to episode:

VOS PODÉS de Tatiana Franko

Tatiana Franko, a seasoned journalist who has worked in television for more than 10 years, brings her interviewing skills to podcasting with her video podcast, VOS PODÉS de Tatiana Franko. “VOS PODÉS” (You Can) has become her signature phrase and is the message she hopes will resonate with listeners. She shares personal life stories of people who have gone through very challenging situations. The podcast has grown tremendously, resulting in 64 episodes’ reaching Spotify’s daily top 100 chart in Colombia. 

Most-listened-to episode:

Vivir Sin Permiso Con Abi

On this podcast, Daniela Abisambra deconstructs what it means to live life by your own standards. Her episodes include chats with guests from the entertainment and social media industry. Vivir Sin Permiso Con Abi has had four episodes on Spotify’s daily top 100 chart in Colombia. The show’s audience is largely aged 18 to 24 and lives in Colombia, Mexico, and the United States.

Most-listened-to episode:

Aleja y La Grúa Podcast

On this video podcast, Aleja and La Grúa discuss relatable stories with their listeners. Their funny commentary is a hit with fans and has helped 60 of their episodes enter Spotify’s daily top 100 chart in Colombia. The show’s success has transcended borders and is popular in the United States, Spain, Costa Rica, Australia, and Mexico.

Most-listened-to episode:

 

Check out this podcast playlist for a round-up of shows we’ve highlighted above. From insightful stories to tears of laughter, the playlist includes something for everyone.

Creators and Fans Celebrate Their Favorite Shows at the Spotify Podcast Festival in São Paulo

November 3, 2023

This weekend, creators are heading to São Paulo to celebrate storytelling at the Spotify Podcast Festival. Brazil is our second-largest podcast market for both listening and creating, and it’s filled with talented people using the medium to connect with others, share stories, and invent new scripted tales. 

The festival will help creators and fans engage in new ways. Many personalities from Spotify Original and Exclusive shows, like Mano a Mano, É nóia minha?, and Para dar nome às coisas, will host live recording sessions, along with creators from podcasts including Um Milkshake Chamado Wanda, Modus Operandi, Bom dia, Obvious, Nerdcast, PODDELAS, gostosas também choram com lela brandão, Os Sócios, Inteligência Ltda., and TICARACATICAST. 

Spotify is also working with the creators of Café da Manhã, PeeWeeCast, Thais Galassi, and Madame Broona’s Horoscopinho Semanal to host bonus sessions for fans, introducing them to new experiences that go beyond traditional podcast listening.

For the Record caught up with Natália Sousa and Mabê Bonafé, two podcast creators who are attending the festival, to learn more about their shows and what they are looking forward to most this weekend.

Natália is a journalist, writer, screenwriter, and the creative mind behind Para Dar Nome às Coisas. On her show, she shares honest stories about fear, failure, courage, starting over, pain, and more.

Mabê is a screenwriter, writer, and cohost of the podcast Modus Operandi. The supernatural show, which she cohosts with Carol Moreira, digs into stories about crime, serial killers, and supernatural cases.

How did you come up with the idea for your podcast?

Natália Sousa looking at the camera laughing

Natália Sousa

Natália: The idea for the podcast started at a Carnaval barbecue. A close friend of mine suggested I do it, and my girlfriend, who works with visual design, loved the idea and we began to develop the concept. The funny thing is that that same week I had just failed a public reading of something I’d written, so I made an episode about failure. Then the podcast started to grow in a pretty crazy way. Feedback from listeners helped me realize that many could identify with the podcast.

Mabê: Carol and I were hooked on true crime documentaries! It all started with the documentary Making a Murderer, which tells the surreal story of a man wrongly imprisoned for 18 years who sues the state and is arrested again a short time later for a different crime. The documentary was full of twists and turns. People became obsessed, and so did we. The true crime genre has been around for a long time, but it seems to have gone through a boom since then, and more documentaries, series, books, and podcasts began to appear. 

We didn’t know other people that we could talk about it with, so in 2018 we decided to create the podcast to allow us to talk about these cases and docs that were emerging. It took a long time to create the podcast, so it only premiered in January 2020.

What are some ways you try to deepen engagement with your fans?

Natália: I really enjoy talking to listeners on social media. I use Instagram the most, and I always post the cover of the episode the day before to raise anticipation about the week’s theme. The other tool that both I, as the creator, and the listeners who follow the podcast love is Spotify’s Q&A box, which helps people to comment on what they think about that specific episode in the app itself. It’s done in an easy and quick way, which increases the chance of them commenting. It’s also encouraging for me to read how the episodes are doing.

Mabê: Over the years we have created a very strong community. We consume a lot of content and also have other common interests. I interact in live streams, in comments, in the entire exchange with the community that allows me to understand more about the audience. There are also the events I attend, such as lectures, literature, and podcast events, which are a great opportunity to interact. It’s even cooler because this is when we have direct interaction [with fans] and we can see the faces of the people who listen to us.

What’s the most challenging part of podcasting?

Mabé Bonafé and Carol Moreira posting in front of the camera

Mabé Bonafé and Carol Moreira

Natália: I guess for me it’s the creativity of coming up with new topics every week. Sometimes it comes easily, other times—not so much. Since I have an editor and a designer who take care of the other parts of the process, it’s up to me to come up with the stories. That’s the most exciting, but also the most challenging.

Mabê: Modus Operandi is a podcast that requires research and careful attention to content that takes time, organization, and production, and that alone is very challenging. But when it comes to podcasts in general, I think the hardest part is getting the structure right so that the episodes always come out correctly. Each episode has a script, artwork, time to record, time to edit, time to review, time to adjust, and all that needs to meet the logistics to ensure that it comes out as frequently as it should.

What’s the most rewarding?

Natália: I think one of the things I say most often is that I have no control over who will stay listening, but they stick around. We created a real community. I’m very grateful to my listeners because that’s the magic of the podcast. From day one I knew I wasn’t alone. It has been healing me and giving me purpose.

Mabê: Making a podcast is basically becoming the soundtrack to many moments in people’s lives, so I think this part is amazing! The number of times people say that we’re their companion on the way to school or work, or that we’re the motivating factor for them to clean their houses! I guess we do help them keep their houses cleaner, then! But seriously, in our case, I believe that shedding light on many cases where the victims have become just a footnote in the story or that the crime was reported through a prejudiced or sensationalist bias and being able to rethink our behaviors as a society is very rewarding.

What are you most looking forward to at the Spotify Podcast Festival?

Natália: It is definitely an opportunity for creators to see people from all over the country who support their work, cheer them on, and it gives them the chance to share how the podcast they created has become a part of their lives. Recording is a solitary moment most of the time—you never know how you’re going to reach people. But at times like this you realize the magic that happens when you turn on the microphone.

Mabê: Podcasting is a solitary activity. We’re recording, just the two of us in a studio, so when we meet people who listen to us in person, it’s a great feeling to be in closer contact. It’s always nice to hear everyone’s story and their relationship with our work. I’m really looking forward to this gathering!

Criadores e fãs comemoram seus programas preferidos no Festival de Podcasts do Spotify em São Paulo.

November 3, 2023

Neste fim de semana, grandes nomes da podosfera brasileira irão se reunir para celebrar a arte de contar histórias no Spotify Podcast Festival.  O Brasil é o nosso segundo maior mercado de podcasts, tanto em termos de ouvintes quanto de criadores, e está recheado de pessoas talentosas que usam essa mídia para se conectar com os outros, compartilhar histórias e inventar outras tantas mais. 

O festival permitirá que criadores e fãs se conectem de forma especial. Os talentos dos programas Originais e Exclusivos Spotify, como Mano a Mano, É nóia minha? e Para dar nome às coisas irão apresentar sessões ao vivo, ao lado de outros grandes nomes da podosfera como  Um Milkshake Chamado Wanda, Modus Operandi, Bom dia, Obvious, Nerdcast, PODDELAS, gostosas também choram com lela brandão, Os Sócios, Inteligência Ltda. e TICARACATICAST. 

O Spotify também se uniu aos criadores dos Café da Manhã, PeeWeeCast, Thais Galassi e Madame Broona do Horoscopinho Semanal para trazer sessões bônus para os fãs, apresentando novas experiências que vão além de só escutar os podcasts. 

O “For the Record” conversou com Natália Sousa e Mabê Bonafé – duas criadoras de podcasts que estão participando do festival – para saber mais sobre seus shows e o que mais esperam para este fim de semana.

Natália é jornalista, escritora, roteirista e a mente criativa por trás do Para Dar Nome às Coisas. Em seu programa, ela compartilha histórias honestas sobre medo, fracasso, coragem, recomeço, dor e muito mais.

Mabê é roteirista, escritora e co-apresentadora do podcast Modus Operandi. O programa sobre casos sobrenaturais, que ela apresenta com Carol Moreira, investiga histórias sobre crimes, serial killers e casos sobrenaturais.

Como surgiu a ideia do podcast? 

Natália Sousa looking at the camera laughing

Natália Sousa

Natália:  A ideia do podcast começou num churrasco  de Carnaval. Um amigo meu de infância sugeriu que eu fizesse e a minha namorada, que faz identidade visual gostou da ideia também, e começamos a estruturar. O curioso é que naquela mesma semana eu tinha fracassado numa leitura de algo que escrevi, então eu fiz um episódio sobre fracasso. Aí o podcast começou a crescer de um jeito muito maluco. E desde o primeiro dia eu entendi que as pessoas que estavam ali me escutando se identificavam com o podcast. 

Mabê: Eu e a Carol estávamos viciadas em documentários de true crime! Tudo começou com o documentário Making a Murderer, que conta a história surreal de um homem preso injustamente por 18 anos, que processa o Estado e é preso de novo pouco tempo depois por um crime diferente. O documentário era cheio de reviravoltas. As pessoas ficaram obcecadas, e nós também. O gênero de true crime existe há muito tempo, mas parece que a partir daí foi um boom, e começaram a surgir mais documentários, séries, livros e podcasts. 

A gente não conhecia outras pessoas para falar sobre isso, daí em 2018 decidimos criar o podcast para falar sobre esses casos e docs que estavam surgindo. Nós demoramos muito para colocar o podcast no ar, ele só veio em janeiro de 2020.

Quais são algumas das maneiras pelas quais você tenta interagir com seus fãs, talvez usando o Spotify para ferramentas de podcaster, como enquetes e perguntas e respostas?

Natália: Eu gosto muito de trocar com os ouvintes pelas redes sociais. O Instagram é o que eu mais uso. Eu sempre divulgo a capa do episódio um dia antes para estimular a expectativa sobre o tema da semana. Outra ferramenta que tanto eu, como criadora, quanto os ouvintes, que acompanham o podcast, amamos é a caixa de perguntas do Spotify, que é uma ferramenta direcionada, que ajuda a pessoa a comentar o que ela achou sobre aquele episódio específico no próprio app, de forma mais fácil e rápida, o que aumenta a chance da pessoa fazer. Para mim também é encorajador ler como os episódios chegam. 

Mabê: Ao longo desses anos criamos uma comunidade muito forte. Consumimos diversos conteúdos e também temos outros gostos em comum. Interajo em lives, nos comentários, nessa troca toda com a comunidade que proporciona entender mais sobre a audiência . Também existem os eventos que participo, como palestras, eventos literários e de podcast, que são uma ótima oportunidade de interagir (com os fãs), e é ainda mais legal, porque é quando a gente tem o contato físico e vê a carinha das pessoas que nos ouvem.

Qual a parte mais desafiadora de ter um podcast? 

Mabé Bonafé and Carol Moreira posting in front of the camera

Mabé Bonafé and Carol Moreira

Natália:  Acho que para mim é a criatividade de pensar em novos temas toda semana. Tem épocas que flui mais fácil, em outras menos. Por ter um editor e uma design que cuidam das outras etapas do processo, a criação das pautas fica comigo. É a mais deliciosa, mas a mais desafiadora também. 

Mabê: O Modus Operandi é um podcast que exige uma pesquisa e cuidado no conteúdo que demanda tempo, organização e produção e isso por si só já é bem desafiador. Mas falando de podcasts no modo geral, acho que a parte mais difícil é acertar na organização para que os episódios sempre saiam corretamente. Cada episódio tem roteiro, tem arte, tem tempo para gravação, tempo para edição, tempo para revisão, tempo para ajustar e tudo isso precisa atender uma logística que garanta que ele saia na frequência desejada.

Qual a parte mais gratificante de ter um podcast? 

Natália: Acho que uma das coisas que eu mais digo é que eu não tenho controle nenhum de quem vai ficar, mas ela ficam. Você cria uma comunidade de verdade. Eu sou muito grata aos meus ouvintes porque essa é a magia do podcast, desde o primeiro dia eu senti que não estava sozinha. Isso foi me curando e me dando sentido.

Mabê: Produzir um podcast é basicamente se tornar a trilha sonora de muitos momentos da vida das pessoas, então creio que essa parte é incrível! A quantidade de vezes que as pessoas dizem que somos a companhia delas no trajeto para a escola ou trabalho, ou que somos o fator motivador para que limpem suas casas! Acho que ajudamos a manter as casas mais limpas, então! Hahaha Mas falando sério, no caso do Modus, creio que jogar luz sobre muitos casos onde as vítimas se tornaram apenas uma nota de rodapé na história ou que o crime foi noticiado através de um viés preconceituoso ou sensacionalista e conseguir repensar os nossos comportamentos enquanto sociedade é gratificante.

Por que você está animado para se reunir com seus fãs no Festival de Podcasts do Spotify?

Natália: Sem dúvida é a oportunidade de ver pessoas de todo o Brasil que acompanham seu trabalho, torcem por você, e estão ali para contar como o podcast que você criou faz parte da vida delas. Gravar é um momento solitário na maior parte do tempo, você nunca sabe como vai chegar nas pessoas, mas em momentos como esse você percebe a magia que acontece quando liga o microfone.

Mabê: O podcast é uma atividade meio solitária, estamos lá gravando só nós duas em um estúdio, então quando encontramos uma galera que consome fisicamente já dá uma sensação muito gostosa desse contato direto, é sempre bom ouvir a história de cada um e sua relação com o que produzimos. Tô muito ansiosa pra esse encontro!

8 New and Returning Podcasts Coming to Spotify This Fall

October 2, 2023

This fall, many fan-favorite Spotify Original and Licensed podcasts are back for more. From binge-worthy scripted series to intriguing personal interviews, there’s a full slate of shows that are already on Spotify ready for listeners. But wait—there’s more. We’re also debuting several new series sure to make you laugh and keep you on the edge of your seat.

Follow along as we dive into new shows, seasons, and episodes perfect for your next drive, workout, or really anytime you’re ready to pop in those headphones.  

Here’s what’s back

Science Vs

In September, Science Vs kicked off a new season, giving fans new episodes that take on fads, trends, and the opinionated mob to find out what’s fact, what’s not, and what’s somewhere in between. This season will cover even more puzzling and enticing topics and debunk the latest trends on social media to inform listeners on what science has to say. From breathing and breathwork, to UFOs to personality tests, there’s a lot it digs into. 

Call Her Daddy

Season 4 of Spotify-exclusive podcast Call Her Daddy premiered in mid-September, and in the first episode, host Alex Cooper travels to New Jersey to hang out with “it girl” Alix Earle. She introduces listeners to Alix’s life in a way they haven’t before seen or heard.

Case 63

For fans who love stories set in a mind-bending time-travel paradox, scripted audio series Case 63 is back for a second season. This installment takes listeners back to 2012, 10 years before the events of the first season, in a riveting second chapter to the saga. Julianne Moore and Oscar Isaac reprise their roles, and new voices for the season include Zoë Winters and Arian Moayad. All 10 episodes are available to stream now. 

Dissect

The Spotify original podcast Dissect is back for its 11th season. Once again, host Cole Cuchna has picked a new album to analyze—song by song—and this time around he’s chosen Radiohead’s critically acclaimed 2007 album In Rainbows. In the season premiere, Cole provides a sweeping history of the band, from its origins in Oxford, England, to its historic run of landmark albums like The Bends, OK Computer, and Kid A. 

Heavyweight

Heavyweight, a podcast that follows Jonathan Goldstein as he examines the past like a therapist with a time machine, is back for Season 8. This season features unconventional love stories: What we owe the people we love, and the extremes we’ll go to in love’s name. Premiering October 5, the first episode introduces us to Lenny, who was Jonathan’s childhood best friend, but they drifted apart as they grew into adulthood. Now, Lenny is dying and needs a friend. So Jonathan makes the call.

Must-listen new shows

Hits the Spot

Also on October 5, Spotify debuts a new weekly video podcast called Hits the Spot. Host Lea Palmieri talks news, stories, insights, and trends with top artists, creators, and tastemakers in a way that only Spotify can. 

Breaking Down with Ali Kolbert

Comedy fans should check out the new video podcast Breaking Down with Ali Kolbert. Rising stand-up comedian Ali brings her frank, lively style and unapologetic perspective to conversations with celebrities, experts, and other comedians about everything from pop culture to relationships to mental health. The inaugural season kicked off with​​ Jonathan Van Ness. The Queer Eye personality, stand-up, and author talks healthy versus unhealthy relationships, lesbian reincarnation, and #notallmen. Breaking Down with Ali Kolbert is produced in part by Spotify’s Creator Equity Fund, which powers our commitment to showcasing and uplifting creators from communities that have been historically underrepresented in the audio industry.

The Riddler: Secrets in the Dark

Earlier this year we announced the expansion of our DC universe with a new show: The Riddler: Secrets in the Dark. Comedian and actor Hasan Minhaj reprises his role as The Riddler, a character previously featured in the 2022 global hit Batman Unburied. The show returns to Gotham City and follows Batman (voiced by Colman Domingo) as he begrudgingly teams up with The Riddler to track down a masked vigilante on the loose in Gotham City. The unlikely duo must solve the mystery before they, too, become victims. The eight-episode show, created in partnership with Warner Bros. and DC, will premiere on October 10.

Looking for more? Check out other new podcast releases on Spotify.

Everything In Store for Podcast Listeners and Creators This International Podcast Day

September 28, 2023

At Spotify, you could say we think about podcasts 24/7. Spotify is now the most-used audio podcast platform in many key markets around the world and the number one podcast publisher in the US. We count over 100 million regular podcast listeners, a ten-fold increase since 2019, and over half a billion people who have listened to at least one podcast on Spotify since 2019. There are now over 5 million shows, with podcasts available in more than 170 markets.

So in the lead-up to International Podcast Day on September 30, we’re taking a moment to celebrate the medium and its creators globally. From Original and exclusive content to programs that empower and amplify new creators, there’s always something fresh to listen to or share, as well as ways to discover new shows or engage with the ones you love more deeply.  

At the BLK Pod Festival happening in Atlanta on International Podcast Day, Spotify for Podcasters’ Creative Director Gavin Guidry will speak onstage to emphasize the power of podcasts in marginalized communities. The festival, sponsored by Spotify’s Creator Equity Fund, aims to showcase Black audio creatives while educating attendees and cultivating relationships and experiences. 

“I’m excited to represent Spotify at the BLK Pod Festival, to have the opportunity to experience a community of Black podcasters in Atlanta, my hometown, and to hear some of the stories that they’re telling through the medium,” says Gavin. “We have a unique way of seeing the world, and it’s always inspiring to see how other creators are putting their stamp on podcasting.”

Gavin, who cohosts the Tools for Time Traveling podcast, will share his thoughts on breaking into podcasting, podcast monetization, trends among creators in the industry, and how creators can develop a sustainable brand.

“Spotify’s tools are primed for all of these opportunities,” he explained to For the Record. “From features like podcast polls and Q&As to opportunities to upload video, we’re always working to give creators more of what they need to reach the biggest, most engaged audience.” 

New Podcast Tools To Love

There’s plenty in store on our platform, too. We’re always creating new ways to make it even easier to listen, discover, and engage with your favorite podcasts, with the following new features starting to roll out to Free and Premium users globally: 

  • Making transcripts richer and easier to follow: We’re launching auto-generated and time-synced transcripts to more creators and shows so you can read along with an episode, making the transcripts more visually and textually accessible. While listening to an episode, scroll down the Now Playing View to find the transcript, then tap the card to follow along on full screen as you listen to the episode. We’ll be rolling out transcripts to millions of episodes in the coming weeks, and we’ll innovate more on this feature in the future, including ways to add media to transcripts. This is all part of our goal to bring more depth to the podcasts you’re listening to.

  • Expanding Podcast Chapters: Earlier this year at Stream On, we announced Podcast Chapters, making it easier for you to jump into episodes at a specific topic or section. Mobile users globally can now find the full list of chapters by scrolling down the Now Playing View, giving them more control over their listening sessions and more info about every episode as they dive in. 

  • Updating the Podcast Show pages: Learn more about a podcast before you listen to the episode in full, with additional content available before you jump in, on an improved Show Place. As it rolls out in the coming weeks, you’ll be able to click the “About” tab to find descriptions, images, and episode recommendations from creators. Plus, you’ll get recommendations for other shows in the “More Like This” tab. 

A Global Roundup

Worldwide, podcasts continue to educate and inspire—whether that’s on the part of the podcasters or the listeners. From Latin America to Europe to Africa, the Pacific and back, we took a look at notable podcasting moments happening across Spotify.

Brazil

In Brazil, one of the fastest-growing podcast markets, we’ve recently demonstrated our ongoing commitment to supporting the creator community through a number of initiatives, including:

  • Spotify Podcast Festival: A first-of-its-kind initiative that connects fans and creators through live sessions in Brazil that are set to take place in November.
  • Making Space studio: The first free podcast studio for creators in Brazil that provides podcasters with an equipped environment for recording audio content.
  • Spotify Labs program: A new live and online initiative aimed at teaching budding podcasters about strategies for developing and successfully launching a podcast on Spotify.

Nigeria

Podcasts are rising in popularity in Nigeria, increasing by 222% in listenership between 2021 and 2022. Gen Z listeners aged 18-24 account for 50% of total streams over three months. The top local podcasts among Nigerian listeners include The HonestBunch Podcast, I Said What I Said, Menisms, So Nigerian, and Tea with Tay, with listeners tuning in the most between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m., possibly while commuting to work, sitting in traffic, or getting ready for the day. 

India

In India, another fast-growing podcast market, we took Spotify Podcasters’ Day to Delhi on September 23, bringing together existing and aspiring creators and storytellers for an evening of conversations and networking. We also took this opportunity to talk about our continued creator focus going forward, announcing the return of two creator programs: 

  • The Spotify Managed Partner Program: This initiative supports existing podcasters on our platform by offering them education, partner management support, and editorial promotion to further grow their listeners.
  • Pod-Start: This two-phase approach focuses on creators who are beginning their podcasting journeys. The first phase focuses on onboarding existing creators to Spotify, and the second empowers individuals with expertise in their respective fields to create podcasts on Spotify.

Japan

The numbers of podcasters and podcast listeners on Spotify have been steadily increasing in Japan. Since our global podcast focus began in 2019, the number of Japanese Spotify users who enjoy podcasts at least once a month has increased by more than 42 times. By summer 2023, monthly podcast consumption had increased by more than 168x from January 2019. Plus, the number of domestic creators in Japan using Spotify for Podcasters to create and distribute podcasts increased more than 34% since we started the local Creator Support Program in January 2022. Hear more from three Japanese creators on why they love podcasting.

Australia

Australia remains in the top 10 countries in the world for podcast listening by hours, with comedy, health & fitness, and society & culture topping the list of most popular genres. The second-fastest-growing Australian podcast in the country is Aussie podcaster Jemma Sbeg from the psychology of your 20s. She started out recording on her bedroom floor and is now a well-known force in the medium. Her top tips for aspiring podcasters:

  • You don’t need a fancy studio or equipment: Jemma started out recording on her phone in her room, and “while the audio quality wasn’t great, my ideas were!”
  • You don’t need to be famous or have a marketing budget to build a following: Jemma’s podcast built an audience purely through word of mouth. “Put yourself out there and your audience will find you.” 
  • Be unique and stay consistent: “If you are authentic and true to yourself, the listeners will come and they will stay!”

Sweden

Our Swedish-owned and -exclusive podcasts have recently gained traction, receiving 11 nominations in the prestigious award show Guldörat, which celebrates the most impactful podcasts, radio shows, and hosts of the year. Among the nominees is Spotify Dok, our flagship podcast for documentaries. With new episodes each week, the original show is growing rapidly as a trailblazer in the booming genre.

Middle East and North Africa

Across the Middle East and North Africa, podcast streaming on Spotify increased more than 190% year-over-year from 2022 to 2023. Long-form interviews and conversations are increasing in popularity in particular, with listeners tuning into shows like Finjan, #ABTalks, and The Mo Show for extended periods of time. This interest in longer-form content coincides with the rise of niche podcasts, catering to specific audiences with topics like mental health, business, and self-improvement. Self-improvement is popular in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, with podcasts like Think with Hessa, Abajorra, and Sawalef Business. Comedy podcasts are popular in Egypt, with shows like Kefaya ba2a and Eshtry Meny attracting a dedicated following.

U.S.

Spotify is the most-used audio podcast platform in many key markets around the world and is also the number one podcast publisher in the U.S, according to the most recent Edison Research data. Top categories include comedy, health & fitness, true crime, society & culture, and news. See more about how U.S. listeners are tuning in.